America's Sweethearts, 2001

It's a comedy about Hollywood insiders and A-list types by Hollywood insiders and A-list types; sometimes it feels like it's for them, too. It's pretty funny, though entirely predictable, so the pleasure comes from primarily from watching the actors do things that they do well. John Cusack is the ripped-up, neurotic ex; Catherine Zeta-Jones is the imperious self-involved primadonna; Julia Roberts is the lovable good egg; Billy Crystal is the long-suffering wisecracker. Stanley Tucci, Hank Azaria, Seth Green, and Christopher Walken are all fun, too. It's like a bag of chips -- enjoyable, but not a meal.

Directed by Joe Roth
Written by Billy Crystal and Peter Tolan

Starring  John Cusack, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Billy Crystal

It's surprising, but Christopher Walken
plays kind of an oddball.

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Martian Child, 2007

Directed by Menno Meyjes
Written by Seth Bass and Jonathan Tolins (from the novelette by David Gerrold)
Starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Bobby Coleman

This one went under the radar, but you can understand why. It's a family story with some laughs that's going for the feel-good tugging-at-the-heartstrings feeling, and it basically succeeds, but you can see a lot of where it's going way too far out. (It may be that movie's predictability probably comes from the Hollywood clean-up of the actual story; no surprise, I suppose.) At the same time, if you know what you came for, you won't be disappointed: complaining about this movie's sentiment is like complaining about a James Bond movie for being all tuxedos, fights, cars, and beautiful women. John Cusack's performance has interesting depth and subtle moments; he demonstrates his acting skills if only because you'd guess he was an actual father from watching him in this movie.

Martian Child on IMDB.
Also, some related thoughts from me at geekiness(Josh Lubarr).

2012, 2009

Directed by Roland Emmerich
Written by Roland Emmerich and Harald Kloser
Starring John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet

Apparently, Mark Twain said about Wagner's music, "It's not as bad as it sounds." And here's the funny thing about this movie: it's not as bad as it seems. First of all, John Cusack has the lead, and his performances range from good to awesome. He's not at the top of his range here, but he's still just fine. Sorry to say, but everyone else is sort of window dressing compared to the literally apocalyptic special effects -- the moral geologist, the amoral government guy, the ex-wife who never gave up on her first husband, the martyr President, the moral + love-interest first daughter, etc. Regarding those special effects, which are the point, they're just what you came for -- tidal waves that flip cruise ships, mega-tidal waves that flip aircraft carriers directly onto the White House, and the mega-uber-tidal waves that are taller than the Himalayas, etc. It's fine, and it's fun. I've actually seen it twice, which is more than I can say for a lot of movies (which shall remain nameless).

2012 on IMDB.

High Fidelity, 2000

Directed by Stephen Frears
Written by D.V. DeVincentis & Steve Pink & John Cusack and Scott Rosenberg from the novel by Nick Hornby
Starring John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Jack Black, and Todd Louiso

This is an all-time favorite of mine. Among its many excellent virtues:

• John Cusack's Rob, which is a non-show-offy but excellent acting job with a character who has no shortage of bad qualities and for an actor who has to spend much of his time talking to the audience and actually having a relationship with them.
• Jack Black's break-out role.
• Great supporting performances by Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Joan Cusack, the inexplicably uncredited Catherine Zeta-Jones, and the incredibly hilarious Tim Robbins.
• The music.
• The "yet" discussion.

One of the younger members of the pantheon.

High Fidelity at IMDB.